The key difference between flying ants and termites is that flying ants are hymenopterans while termites are isopterans.
Identifying flying ants and termites apart can be difficult for an untrained person. At first sight, even a professional entomologist would be confused before taking a close examination of the features. However, there is a distinct difference between flying ants and termites. If you look very closely, you’ll notice that flying ants have a distinct waist with an arrow-like body profile, whereas termites have a straight or cylindrical body without a distinct waist. Moreover, termites have equally long pair of wings while the forewings are longer than hind wings in termites.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Flying Ants
3. What are Termites
4. Side by Side Comparison – Flying Ants vs Termites in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What are Flying Ants
Flying ant is a stage of the lifecycle of ants where they have developed wings. These are hymenopterans belonging to the Family Formicidae and there are more than 22,000 species of ants. Their whole body is made up of three major parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. The junction between the thorax and abdomen is highly prominent, which is a notable characteristic of the Order Hymenoptera. There are two sets of wings or two pairs of wings in flying ants, and forewings are larger than the hind wings. Their membranous wings are more or less pointed when compared to most ant species.
Feeding preferences of most flying ants are not specific, but they are capable of sustaining from almost anything in their path, as they are omnivores. The antennae of all ant species are bent like an elbow, which looks like a pair of legs from the head. Legs of the ants are considerably long, and they get even longer when they proceed to the winged stage. The body profile of flying ants is pointed at the posterior end with an arrowhead-shaped abdomen.
What are Termites?
Termites belong in the Order Isoptera with about 4000 estimated species. There are more than 2600 described species of termites since their first occurrence (based on fossil evidence) on the Earth before 140 million years from today. Sometimes, the termites are called ‘white ants’ due to the typical colour of their body. In addition, termite bodies are soft, and they do not have a distinct waist. Therefore, the body profile of termites appears cylindrical with a more straight stature than a pointed or rounded one.
Their habitats can be either soil or wood and the colonies consist of different castes depending on the size of the individual; nest workers, foragers, and soldiers. Both male and female termites can fall into any category. Nest workers care for the eggs and make the nest by chewing the wood in case of a wooden habitat. Foragers are responsible for finding food while soldiers always guard the home against attacks because there are frequent attacks by ants on termite colonies. Termites develop two pairs of wings when they get old; these are equal in length, and the shape is more or less rounded. Their antennae are short and straight without bends. When there is a swarm of termites, wood and timber in the inhabited place can quickly get destroyed due to their high preference for cellulose as food.
What is the Difference Between Flying Ants and Termites?
Flying ants are hymenopterans while termites are isopterans. This is the key difference between flying ants and termites. Moreover, flying ants have a distinct waist with an arrow-like body profile, whereas termites have a straight or cylindrical body without a distinct waist. Termites have equally long pair of wings while the forewings are longer than hind wings in termites. In flying ants, antennae are bent like an elbow, but not in termites. Another difference between flying ants and termites is that termites are specialized to feed on wood while flying ants are generalized feeders. Moreover, flying ants have longer legs than termites.
Summary – Flying Ants vs Termites
Flying ant is a stage of the lifecycle of ants where they have developed wings while termites are small, pale soft-bodied insects that live in large colonies. The key difference between flying ants and termites is that flying ants are hymenopterans while termites are isopterans.
Image Courtesy:
1. “FlyingAnts” By Dave Parker – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “3367350” (CC0) via Pixabay